Could obesity be linked to falls in older adults?

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on physical activity and mental health among undergraduate students

With the sudden change of environment and limited studies on the effects of COVID-19 lockdown among university students, this study therefore aims to examine the effects of COVID-19 lockdown on physical activity level and mental health among university students in Malaysia. This is a cross-sectional study involving university students studying in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Demographics information, living status during COVID-19, physical activity level and mental health status were obtained through online questionnaire via Microsoft forms. Paired T-test was used to compare the effect of physical activity level and mental health status during COVID-19 lockdown. Data on falls was available for 383 participants with 254 (66.3 %) women and 129 (33.7%) men. Overall, the metabolic equivalent task (MET) of vigorous, moderate, mild, and total MET has decreased during COVID-19 lockdown as compared to before COVID-19 lockdown. Approximately an increment of 6% of participants reported having depression and anxiety during COVID-19 lockdown. In conclusion, significant impact on physical activity level and mental health was found in our study. Our study findings could therefore assist educational institutions and policymakers in forming strategies to improve student’s overall health, yet further longitudinal studies should be performed to examine the long-term effects of COVID-19 lockdown

A Five-Year Prospective Evaluation of Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden and Falls in the Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research (MELoR) study

Acknowledgements This third-wave follow-up interviews were funded by the Ministry of Higher Education Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS/1/2019/SKK02/UM/01/1). The Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research study is now part of the Transforming Cognitive Frailty into Later-Life Self-Sufficiency (AGELESS) study which merges two existing longitudinal studies of ageing and is funded by the Ministry of Higher Education Long-Term Research Grant Scheme (LRGS/1/2019/UM/01/1/1). We would also like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the MELoR investigators and research team.Peer reviewedPostprin

Gender differences in association between measures of central obesity and falls in community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults in Malaysia

Acknowledgements This study was partially funded by the Ministry of Higher Education Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS/1/2019/SKK02/UM/01/1). We would like to thank all MELoR investigators for helping in the data collection. The MELoR study is now the Transforming Cognitive Frailty to Later Life SelfSufficiency (AGELESS) study, which is funded by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia Long Term Research Grant Scheme.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Body shape, fear of falling, physical performance, and falls among individuals aged 55 years and above

Acknowledgements We would like to thank all MELoR investigations for their help during the data collection. Additionally, we would also like to thank to our funders. The MELoR study was funded by a High Impact Research Grant from the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Malaysia ((UM.C/625/1/HIR/MOHE/ASH/02). We would also like to acknowledge the financial support provided by University of Malaya under the Wellness Research Centre (WRC) Grand Challenge grant (GC002A-HTM).Peer reviewedPostprin

Body Fat Percentage and Long-Term Risk of Fractures. The EPIC-Norfolk Prospective Population Cohort Study

Funding: MPT, SM, SHK and PKM are recipients of a Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education Fundamental Research Grant Scheme grant (FP102-2019A) which funds SHK’s salary. SRN received Vacation Scholarship Grant from Medical Research Scotland (Vac26 1196-2018). The EPIC-Norfolk study (DOI 10.22025/2019.10.105.00004) has received funding from the Medical Research Council (MR/N003284/1 and MC-UU_12015/1) and Cancer Research UK (C864/A14136).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Increased Body Mass Index is Associated with Sarcopenia and Related Outcomes

Acknowledgement This study was supported by grant from the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS/1/2019/SKK02/UM/01/1).Peer reviewedPostprin

Psychosocial Determinants of Knee Osteoarthritis Progression: Results from the Promoting Independence in Our Seniors with Arthritis Study

Background Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common cause of physical disability among older adults. While established risk factors for knee OA include age and increased body weight, few studies have examined psychosocial risk factors or progression of knee OA. Methods The Promoting Independence in our Seniors with Arthritis study recruited participants aged 65 years and over from orthopedic outpatients and community engagement events. Participants were invited to annual visits during which knee OA symptoms were assessed with the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), social network using the 6-item Lubben Social Network Scale and anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale. Knee OA worsening was defined by a 5% reduction in mean KOOS scores at the last visit compared to the first visit. Results Data were available from 148 participants, mean age 66.2±6.5 years and 74.1% female, of whom 28 (18.9%) experienced OA worsening over a median follow-up period of 29 months. Univariate analyses revealed that age, sex, height, grip strength, and social network were associated with OA worsening. Social network remained statistically significantly associated with OA worsening after adjustment for age and sex difference (odds ratio=0.924; 95% confidence interval, 0.857–0.997). The relationship between social network and OA worsening were attenuated by both depression and handgrip strength at baseline. Conclusion Psychological status and muscle strength may be modifiable risk factors for social network which may in turn prevent knee OA worsening and should be targeted in future intervention studies

Body Fat Percentage and the Long-term Risk of Fractures. The EPIC-Norfolk Prospective Population Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: This cohort study aimed to determine the association between body fat percentage (BF%), incident fractures and calcaneal broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA). METHODS: Participants were drawn from the EPIC-Norfolk Prospective Population Cohort Study (median follow-up = 16.4 years). Cox models analysed the relationship between BF% and incident fractures (all and hip). Linear and restricted cubic spline (RCS) regressions modelled the relationship between BF% and BUA. RESULTS: 14,129 participants (56.2 % women) were included. There were 1283 and 537 incident all and hip fractures respectively. The participants had a mean (standard deviation) age of 61.5 (9.0) years for women and 62.9 (9.0) years for men. Amongst men, BF% was not associated with incident all fractures. While BF%  23 % was associated with increased risk of hip fractures by up to 50 % (hazard ratio (95 % confidence interval) = 1.49 (1.06-2.12)). In women, BF%  35 % was not associated with this outcome. Higher BF% was associated with lower risk of incident hip fractures in women. Higher BF% was associated with higher BUA amongst women. Higher BF% up to ~23 % was associated with higher BUA amongst men. CONCLUSIONS: Higher BF% is associated with lower risk of fractures in women. While there was no association between BF% and all fractures in men, increasing BF% >23 % was associated with higher risk of hip fractures in men. This appears to be independent of estimated bone mineral density. Fracture prevention efforts need to consider wider physical, clinical, and environmental factors.MPT, SM, SHK and PKM are recipients of a Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education Fundamental Research Grant Scheme grant (FP102-2019A) which funds SHK’s salary. SRN received Vacation Scholarship Grant from Medical Research Scotland (Vac-1196-2018). The EPIC-Norfolk study (DOI 10.22025/2019.10.105.00004) has received funding from the Medical Research Council (MR/N003284/1 and MC-UU_12015/1) and Cancer Research UK (C864/A14136)